Education and schools work update
Some links from the world of education and schools work:
- •A’ levels being turned into ‘sat nav’ qualifications: Alevels are being reduced to little more than “sat nav” exams as students are led through questions and granted multiple resits according to a damning report.
•Social policy ‘ruining childhood’ : Childhood is being undermined by a string of “oppressive demands” from ministers disguised as social policy experts have claimed.
•We must allow children the chance to fail: Life skills are as important as exams and IQ says Yvonne Roberts.
•School ruling ‘will cause admissions chaos’ : Dozens of faith schools will be forced to tear up their admissions policies following a landmark court ruling.
•Rise in number of pupils with special educational needs: Almost 18% of pupils in English schools have special educational needs (SEN), government figures show.
•Teachers face MOT every five years to prove fitness to teach: Government introduces new licence to teach amid widespread changes to English school system.
•Reading bedtime stories to children ‘less effective than conversation’: Reading children bedtime stories may not be as effective in helping them to learn language as talking to them before they go to sleep.
•Teachers’ anti-discrimination code reworded after faith groups object: Requirements for teachers to promote diversity removed from new GTCE code of conduct after faith groups objected to a ruling that would force them to “promote equality and value diversity”, including challenging homophobia and supporting homosexuality.
•Emotional rescue: A new scheme trains adults in ‘first aid’ for young people who turn to them in a time of crisis.
•NHS tells school children of their ‘right’ to ‘an orgasm a day’: NHS guidance is advising school pupils that they have a “right” to an enjoyable sex life and that regular sex can be good for their cardiovascular health.
•Computerised testing likely to replace traditional exams, says head of board: Exams have been a rite of passage for millions, but within a decade they could be consigned to history, according to Simon Lebus, chief executive of Cambridge Assessment, to be replaced by computerised testing.
•Plan to scrap league tables in schools: A radical plan for replacing league tables and Labour’s controversial school report cards will be outlined by a former senior government adviser.
